Improvement in hand-stamps



UNITED S'rAiuiisiA PATEN'I OFFICEc SIEGFRIED F. GRATZ, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,129, dated February 6,1877; application tiled December 11, 1876.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SIEGFRIED F. GRATZ, of city and county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Hand-Stamp, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the stamp, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa central vertical section thereof in line a0 w, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are central vertical sections of a portion thereof. Fig. 6 is a face view of a typewheel.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to a handstamp having a sliding and rotary head, which carries the stamping or printing characters, and presents the face thereof successively in opposite directions to the inking-pad, and in position for stamping or printing.

The invention consists of means for rotating the head, in combination with means for holding the same during shifting or setting and examination of the printing-characters. It also consists of a shifting type-wheel formed of two or more stamping or printing faces f with intervening grooves for the engagement of a locking-bar attached to vthe head on which the wheel is mounted. It also consists ofa latch for controlling the locking-bar of the type-wheel, and holding the head to which the wheel is pivoted during the operation of shifting the typewheel.

Referring to the drawings, A represen ts what may be termed the base of the stamp, and it consists of a box or frame with a top plate, a, open at the bottom b, and having vertical slots d in its sides. B represents the head, which carries a die or type Wheel, or both, and it is tted within the base A, and mounted on an axial pin, C, whose ends play in the vertical slots d of the sides of the base, and to said ends there are connected arms D, attached to a boss, E, at the lower portion of a handle, F, which is hollow or partly hollow, 'and receives a spring, which bears against the upper end of a tubular stem, G, which passes through the boss E, and is connected to the top plate a ofthe base A, on the under side of which plate is placed the inking-pad H, the

upper end of the stem G being closed bya cap,

e. The type-wheel K, formed of one piece, or

in series, is connected to the head B by the axial pin C, and it will have two or more faces, which may be presented for making impressions, said faces consistin g of numbers, names,

I words, dates, addresses, 0r other desired characteristics, and between each face will be formed a horizontally-extending groove for the receptionof a bar, L, which is -hinged to the head B, to which also, at the side opposite to the axis of the bar L, there is hinged a latch, M, which is adapted to engage with the bar L when the latter is in one of the grooves of the type-wheel. N represents shoulders, which are formed on the side or sides of the head B; and P represents lugs, which project inwardly from one or both sides of the base A, and they are arranged in such position that at a proper time the shoulders N of the head Will engage with the lugs, as will be stated. On the inner face of one side of the base there is a groove,f, which extends in the direction of the length of the slot d, and on the head B, adjacent to the shoulder N, there is a guide piece, g, which is adapted to enter said groove R represents horizontal slots, formed in the side of the base, and located in proximity to the latch M, so that when the latch is opened it may enter said slots for holding the head B at a certain point, as will be stated.

The operation is as follows: The die will be properly secured to the head B, and the typewheel set so that the proper face will project at the central opening of the die. 'lhe tubular stem G will be supplied with a sufficient quantity of ink and closed at top by means of the cap e, the pad H absorbing the ink passed y to it from the stem G. When the parts are in their normal position, the face ot' the die or type wheel, or both, will be uppermost in contact with the inking-pad, so as to be properly supplied with ink. Place the base on the article to receive the impression and depress the handle F, whereby the arms D will descend and lower the head B. The shoulder N of the head B now comes in contact with the upper lug P of the base A, whereby a quarter-turn will be imparted to the head. Then, by means of the guide-piece g and the lower lug P, an-

l in the groove f of the base, said face advances on the paper or other article to be stamped or printed, and the impression will be made. Then the handle is let go, or permitted to rise, and, owing to the spring therein, the movable parts are elevated, in which movement the head is rotated, and making a half-turn it resumes its normal position, bringing the face of the die or of the wheel, or both, in contact with the inking-pad, so as to feed said face afresh, after which the former operation may be repeated, as desired. When the type-wheel E is t0 be shifted, iu order to bring another face thereof in position for stamping or printing, the handle F is depressed sufficiently 'to cause the head B to ymake a half-turn. Now, open the latch M and insert it in the slots R of the base, thus preventing movementof the been stated.

'I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters l. The base A, with' projecting lugs P and slots R, and the sliding and rotary head B, with llatch M, combined 'and 'operating "substantially asv and for the purpose set forth.

2. The type-ivheeI, in combination with the locking-bar L and latch M, substantially as and for thepurpo'se set forth.

3. The'base A, with slots R and latch M, combined and operating substantially as and 'for the purpose set forth.

s.. F. GRATZ.

vWitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT. 

